Reva Devito | Catnip Collective
It has been a long time since we have been infected with the haunting and beautiful voice and spirit of Portland, Oregon’s own Reva Devito. A few years ago we tracked down Reva on Myspace to see what she was all about and here we are nearly 3 years later to find out that Ms. Devito is putting out a sweet new EP, The Catnip Collective. This project was a 5-month journey of collaborations amongst Portland-based musicians Tony Ozier aka Dookie Green (Doo Doo Funk All Stars), Steveland Swatkins (The Excellent Gentlemen) and her main dood, A. Bixby (who also produced our fav track of hers ‘Detox’) We caught up with Reva to ask her some questions about this project and here is what she had to say:
Where did the name Catnip Collective come from?
Collective because I am referring to the whole team of North West artists that aided me in my project… producers, artists, investors, family and friends… Catnip because we be makin these cats out here feel real good, you know what I’m sayin?? :)
Tell us about the tracks on the EP
“‘Those Looks” & ‘Baby What You Do To Me’ are both crush songs that we can all identify with at some point I am sure…’They Say’ and ‘Nasty Stuff’ concern some activism meaning. ‘They Say’ is more about the media as a form of control for big $ machines and how they want us to be distracted so that we won’t rise up. But I am saying like with the right music and the right art and conversation we can change the system… little by little…. ‘Nasty Stuff’ is about past movements for human rights and pushing for those same kinds of techniques today for our youth…Being one, not separated in the movements. ‘Boogie Down’ is a party song that is pretty much saying, hey if you want to dance dance… if you dont want to dance, don’t do it!!! hahaha”
Have a listen to the standout track from this EP, ‘Nasty Stuff’. The horn sounds are courtesy of Farnell Newton. This track is beautiful. Tell us what you think -> minty [at] themintcollective [dot] com. Catch Reva and crew opening up for Foreign Exchange July 21 @ The Someday in Portland.
Support Reva’s release here.
